Fbancis o



(No Model.)

Patented 1mf 21.41882;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS O. MINOR AND JAMES M. HENNESSEY, OF VNEW ORLEANS, LA.

HAM E-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,708,dated November 21, 1882.

i Application filed September 8, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: p

Be` it known that we, FRANCIS O. MINOR and JAMES M. HENNEssELcitizeus of the United StatesA of America, residing at New Orleans, inthe parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hame'Fasteners; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention, which relates to llame-fasteners, has .for its objects to improve the means for closing and opening the fastener so as to quickly adjust the haines to and from their collar, and to simplify and cheapen the construction of safety hame-t'asteners, to which class this invention belongs.

With these and other objects in view., our improvement consists in hames provided at one ofthe lower ends with a rectangular loop or ring and the other lower end with a snap-hook.

Our improvement further consists in the novel lconstruction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l` represents the lower portion ot a horse-collar and haines, showing the fastener in a closed position. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, showing the fastener in an open position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the hames, connecting-chain, and lever; and Fig. 4 isa detail view.

The letter A represents the lower portion of a horse-collar, and B B the lower portion of a pair of ha'mes adjusted in position on the collar, as shown. The lower end of the haine B is provided with the hook O, composed of `the rectangular loop t working in the formed eye b of the hame, the curved portion c, terminating in the transverse bar d, serving as a guard, andthe flat spring e, secured at j' by a rivet or its equivalent. The lower end of the other or opposite hame, B', is provided with a rectangular loop or ring, D, working iu the formed eye h of the hame. f

The chain E, composed of several links, with the lever F, swiveled thereto, is attached to the hook O by passing one of the links over the curved portion oi' the hook O and under the spring, as shown. The spring c, in connection with the transverse bar d, prevents the chain from working 0E and out of the hook, thereby making an absolute safety coupling at this end of the hames. The lever. which is composed of two parts-#the shank z', and the lever-arm k, pivoted together at m-is passed Vthrough the loop D, substantially in the manner as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and by forcing the leverarm forward in the direction as indicated by the arrow 1 the connection between the haines will be made, and the fastener closed.

The construction of the chain and lever are substantially the same as that shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 242,209, dated May 31, 1881, of which we are assignees in part. i

In case it is desirable to lock the lever-arm to the shank, a set-screw, n, is tapped through the shank, so that the inner end will tit into a small recess in the lever-arm.

The facility with which this fastener can be closed and opened is remarkable. Should a horse fall with this attachment, the lever can be readily and quickly thrown back, as indicated by the arrow 2, and the horse freed from the harness, thus loosening up the traces without cutting the harness.

It is obvious that the hook O can be used without `the spring c, to produce substantially the same result.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A pair of haines, one of which is provided with a permanently-attached snap-hook and the other with a permanently-attached loop, in combination with a :flexible and adjustable heme-connection, as described.

2. In asafety hame-fasteuer, the combination of the hames B B with the hook O, provided with the transverse bar d and the loop D, the pivoted lever F with the swiveled connected chain E, substantially and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS O. MINOR. JAMES M. HENNESSEY. Witnesses:

H. M. HYAMs, J As. TIEMAN. 

